Clock frequency controller for a processor and method of operation thereof

Abstract

A clock frequency controller for a processor and a method of operation thereof. The clock frequency controller may be embodied in a processor, including: (1) a processing core operable at a clock frequency to undertake a processing of a graphics application, and (2) a clock frequency controller coupled to the processing core and operable to adjust the clock frequency based on a current frame rate of the processing and a target frame rate for the processing.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD[0001]This application is directed, in general, to processors and, more specifically, to a clock frequency controller for a processor and a method of operating the same.BACKGROUND[0002]Computing systems are often designed around a fine balance of power consumption and performance. Demand for ever-higher computing performance continues to outpace the power availability of modern systems. Many modern computing systems are categorized as mobile and rely on battery power. These include laptop computers, tablets and cellphones. Significant achievements have been made in battery technology yielding smaller, more efficient, and often reusable cells. However, processing demands, driven by high-bandwidth software applications and high-fidelity graphics rendering, too often negate those achievements. High-performance computing systems can drain the most advanced battery in a relatively brief period of time.[0003]Power efficiency has become a hallmark of computing system design,...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

This patent is about a processor that can adjust its clock frequency based on the current frame rate of a graphics application and the target frame rate for the application. This helps to improve the processing performance of the processor and ensure that the application runs smoothly at the target frame rate. This technology is useful for generating graphics at a target frame rate and improving the overall performance of the display system.

Problems solved by technology

Demand for ever-higher computing performance continues to outpace the power availability of modern systems.

However, processing demands, driven by high-bandwidth software applications and high-fidelity graphics rendering, too often negate those achievements.

High-speed processors perform more operations per second, demanding more energy and generating more heat than slower alternatives.

More often than not, cooling systems demand even more power from the system.

In other words, in a period of time when the processor is under-loaded, there are “wasted” clock cycles.

If a system is over-loaded, the processing load exceeds the processing bandwidth of the system's processing cores.

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